Friday, July 24, 2009

And What Is Haaretz's Source?

The U.S. administration has issued a stiff warning to Israel not to build in the area known as E-1, which lies between Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim. Any change in the status quo in E-1 would be "extremely damaging," even "corrosive," the message said.

Obama’s attempt to freeze building for Jews in Judea and Samaria appears to be backfiring according to a real estate agency report, which finds a boom in new home sales in Maaleh Adumim (located several minutes east of Jerusalem) further increasing the number of Jews living in the West Bank. The price of a three-bedroom apartment in Maaleh Adumin was $215,000 before Obama’s campaign against Israel. The price for the same unit now is $244,000. The city’s mayor Benny Kashriel said that all 450 apartments under construction are almost sold out. Maaleh Adumim resident and American native Beth Gordon, who has been discussing buying property for her children, laughed at President Obama’s description of her city as a (mere) settlement.

About Me

American born, my wife and I moved to Israel in 1970. We have lived at Shiloh together with our family since 1981. I was in the Betar youth movement in the US and UK. I have worked as a political aide to Members of Knesset and a Minister during 1981-1994, lectured at the Academy for National Studies 1977-1994, was director of Israel's Media Watch 1995-2000 and currently, I work at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem. I was a guest media columnist on media affairs for The Jerusalem Post, op-ed contributor to various journals and for six years had a weekly media show on Arutz 7 radio. I serve as an unofficial spokesperson for the Jewish Communities in Judea & Samaria.